Progress on Roma and Sinti rights is encouraging but the road ahead remains long, OSCE human rights office says

WARSAW/VIENNA, 8 December 2023 – Two decades after the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) embarked on its journey to improve the lives of Roma and Sinti and work towards societies that promotes the diversity of our nations, ODIHR is publishing its five-yearly report to assess efforts made by OSCE states in ensuring equal opportunities for Roma and Sinti people in all areas of life.

“Since the countries of the OSCE committed to ensuring positive change for the Roma and Sinti across the region over 20 years ago, real progress has been made,” said ODIHR First Deputy Director Tea Jaliashvili. “But deep disparities between the lives of the Roma and the general population remain in a number of places, and anti-Roma racism and discrimination are still a fundamental challenge. We must continue working to improve their situation and increase Roma participation in public and political life.”

OSCE countries have moved forwards in developing targeted policy to support Roma and Sinti and adapting their domestic legislative frameworks to address the many challenges faced by these communities. However, regular consultation with the communities themselves, including women and youth, is needed to ensure these frameworks and mechanisms are implemented effectively.

“This is an occasion to be proud on behalf of the OSCE, and a good example of the difference our organization, despite its limited resources, has been able to make over the years for people on the ground. But as this report also makes clear, much, much more needs to be done,” said Hilda Kolevska, Minister Plenipotentiary, OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia. “The lack of access to equal quality education and economic opportunities makes it all the more important to finally break the cycle of the generational “reproduction of inequality” that is still negatively impacting and hampering the lives of Roma and Sinti in so many of our countries,” she added.

“Roma and Sinti communities across the OSCE region still experience multiple inequalities, racism and discrimination in exercising their rights and accessing services,” said Gabriela Hrabanova, Executive Director or European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network.  “The situation of women and communities displaced by conflict are of particular concern, and require tailored measures that lead to sustainable solutions.” 

All OSCE countries have recognized “the particular difficulties faced by Roma and Sinti and the need to undertake effective measures in order to achieve full equality of opportunity” for these communities in the OSCE area.

ODIHR supports states throughout the OSCE area in fulfilling these commitments. In line with the Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area, ODIHR publishes a report every five years to summarise the progress made by states in improving the social and economic situation of Roma and Sinti, their participation in civic and political life, and progress in combating racism and discrimination.